The Watchtower

The whispers of wind brushed past me, whispering warnings of my path. I could feel their apprehension, but I trudged on anyway.

I knew my path wouldn't be easy, and the bite of the snow did nothing to soothe my anxiety, but it was time to leave my meager encampment, to go on with my plan.

I hadn't achieved much in my life, and I didn't have much either. Materialistic things didn't bother me and titles were just a burden, but one thing I did have from hiding in the shadows and observing was my intelligence. I knew how people worked, what made them tick, what made them rollover and even beg, regardless of their titles. I'd always been quick in fighting and in whit to disarm whatever they threw at me. Luckily, when I was younger, I had been allowed to train as a mage, learning the elements, healing and energy. I had excelled in this, but took off before anyone could look too closely at my gifts.

But now the winds whisper to me, telling me of something dangerous, it doesn't feel all that great though and my survival tendencies seem to be updated with this new threat that I can't quite fathom.

Everything in me told me not to go to the old town, but I desperately needed supplies, the wind was pushing against me as I neared, and even the flowers looked like they tried to turn away, and yet I felt I needed to be here, even at the elements obvious disdain.

As I neared the town something became obvious, and that was the heaviness in the air. Even the animals here looked depressed, like something wasn't right, I came here for food and yet I could feel my curiosity mounting.

Part of me wanted to flee and not delve into this mystery, but the other part needed to know what ailed them so.

Since arriving here, the energy in the air prickled at me and it was heavy, the very land screamed that something wasn't right, but even the earth didn't understand why. The water seemed stale also, so I couldn't ask why it hurt, it was like all life was stuck in something they didn't understand. The land seemed dead, the water lost its pattern and the very air seemed to be stale, what had happened here?

I couldn't seem to tap into my elemental gifts and yet I couldn't ask the elements to whisper the town’s secrets as they didn't seem to hear, and yet I felt the trees mourn and sadness at their lack of growth penetrate through me. The plants felt weak and withdrawn and the people felt dead to me, like walking vessels, walking about day to day but utterly miserable from their existence.

I tried to connect to the birds, but only then did it occur to me that they were absent. If birds are absent from such a place, then why did I enter, they were the best warning to avoid a place, and yet I walked into the old town anyway, walking closer and closer to the markets.

One thing became apparent quickly with the market, it was quiet, too quiet. Markets are usually bustling with people and energy, even to me as an energy reader, they can become overbearing. But here, there was no noise, I felt like I had entered another place, that was similar to the underworlds path of despair, but even that would seem more lively.

The first stall I came upon sold animal hides, given my last one was over worn, it was necessary for me to purchase another for the coming winter. As I approached, I saw the small woman behind the stall knitting away. I pointed at the animal skin I wanted and as she looked up, I noticed the grey in her eyes. It was like she wasn't there, almost like she was drugged. I was taken aback, in all my years dealing with different people and observing, this was new even for me. She grabbed the skin off a small rack and held out her hand for the coin, I placed the coin in her wrinkly hand and she handed me the skin without any other words. I thought this was strange that she didn't speak, so I asked her if she had any rabbit skins for sale, I had already noted that they didn't, but thought it important to try and get a response out of this voidless shape of a woman. She seemed to hear me and lifted her head, but as she did, she looked me in the eye. The moment she did this I felt myself blanch, like the life drained out of me, like the very existence of life was no more, there was nothing in her eyes, not even the space between life and death, just a soulless void.

It was like she realised, and she grinned, not a kind old woman grin either, it was full of malicious, and at the same time, it held no emotion. 'what do you really want to know' she said. I'm pretty sure at that moment my heart stopped, I'd spent years reading others easily and peering into their minds, but this was the first time someone did it to me. I was used to being invisible, as an orphan and someone used to being alone, no one had ever really bothered with me, it had allowed me to learn people easily, but this old frail woman stared into my eyes with such a knowing that it had me reeling.

Once I had remembered to breathe and collect my thoughts, I knew it was stupid to lie so I said outright, 'Why are you all like this, why does this town feel dead'. She looked at me and didn't reply, but a glint appeared in her previous dead eyes and she said, "You'll find what you need in the bell tower". She then sat down and continued knitting like the exchange never occurred.

I stood there not knowing what to do, but knowing the old lady wouldn't offer me more answers, I continued down the market path. Each stall I came across had a similar exchange but without answers. I tried getting multiple vendors to answer my questions but they only held out their hand for coin for the products I had asked for. It felt like a strange plot in a play, like everyone knew something but me, or they couldn't give away the plot, and it was unnerving to say the least.

Once I had all the items I needed, I walked a fair bit into the old town, at this point I felt I was at a crossroads, turn back and continue on my journey as I had the supplies I needed, or to solve the puzzle. I could see the bell tower in the distance, it felt like it beckoned me to go to it, and at the same time, it radiated that I stay away. I knew I could take the easy route and leave this place where it previously lay, but at the same time, I'd always been a keen learner, someone who didn't baulk from a challenge, and this challenge called to me like a seductress into the night.

I knew I'd regret leaving with unanswered questions, so I looked towards the bell tower and began the walk to it.

Two things happened when I started walking towards the tower, firstly, it was like it realised the decision I had made, secondly, whatever energy it radiated for me to stay away strengthened. The energy felt like sludge, and the closer I walked to it the thicker if became. My joints ached with the exertion it took and by the time I got to it and stood outside it's heavy door, I could hear the sound of it, and it felt deafening.

The door of the tower was open, and yet I sensed it couldn't close, or maybe it wasn't so used to people entering willingly. Despite the cold of winter, I was sweating as I walked up to those wooden doors, the air at this point felt so constricting and everything around me told me to run, but I felt I had come so far. I could face whatever is within that tower.

As I entered the tower, the deafening sound disappeared, it became completely silent, not even the wind seemed to enter this place, and yet it didn't feel stale either, more like absent but full at the same time. The tower had a small corridor which led to a spiral staircase leading under the ground, or up to the top of the tower. I didn't know which to take, but I also needed answers, I decided to go down first and then work my way up after.

As I walked down the staircase, the air became thicker, it whispered to me, but not like the wind did. This felt ancient and new at the same time, it felt so familiar to me but I couldn't pinpoint it. The energy felt so powerful, like it could rip me to shreds easily, and yet I also knew it was the same energy I was made of, luckily it didn't feel likely to attack so kept my senses alert as I walked down the staircase. I heard the whispers call my name, and tell me my own secrets, I heard it whisper names of people once known and long gone from this world, my parents, my sister and some friends from long ago. I tried to shut off the voices but they didn't leave, they only increased their search on my memories, looking for something I couldn't quite pinpoint.

After what felt like an eternity, or around eight stories under the ground, I finally reached the final step. Up ahead were some doors, I walked towards the massive, ornate doors, which creaked open without even touching them like it knew I would be here today, something preordained. As I entered the vast chamber bathed in a soft, ethereal light. In the centre of the room stood a grand crystal mirror, its surface swirling with colors that danced like forgotten memories.

I walked to the mirror, hearing quiet voices emitting from it, the closer I got, the louder the voices got, but I couldn’t quite work out what they were saying. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a spectral figure walk out of the shadows, or maybe he was what formed the shadows, I couldn’t quite tell. He was like moving darkness, its form was ever-shifting, a mosaic of countless faces and voices, a manifestation of the tower's magic itself.

I stepped back ready to run at any given moment, but it raised its hands and said in a deep soothing voice that sounded like liquid night; “do not be afraid of me my child, I mean you no harm, I am the Warden of Truth”.

I stared at him, unable to speak or move, I knew he could sense my sudden shock as the warden continued speaking in a chorus of whispers, "Welcome to the Watchtower, here, your truths will be revealed and any questions you have answered”.

It occurred to me at that moment what a mistake I had made, I had somehow entered a magical tower with a talking shadow that was apparently going to answer any questions I had, the absurdity of it all hit me and I did the only mature thing I could think of, I burst out laughing. This laughing wasn’t subtle either, after about 30 seconds tears were streaming down my face as this shadow warden stood as still as death just observing me without any visible eyes. I’m slightly ashamed to admit, it took me a good part of 10 minutes to regain composure. Once I had stopped laughing, the warden said; “I understand that this may be a shock to you, and for you to be here today may seem strange, however, you cannot leave this place until you have looked into the mirror”.

“What do you mean I can’t leave”, I said abruptly, the warden made a clicking sound like it was annoyed at having to repeat a question, “you cannot leave until you have looked into the mirror. The tower you entered today is a sacred tower of truth, it called to you like it does many and for you to see me means it is fate that you are here, however, for someone to enter this tower willingly, they agree to pay a price for their questions, that price is that you look into the mirror and face yourself before you can ask any questions.”

Stunned, I stared at him, he had no human expression and no facial features, so this made him hard to read, but what I could sense was the utter truth in what it was saying, “What if I don’t have any questions?” I said, his eyeless face seemed to stare down at me as he simply replied “that was a question, do you not grasp the concept of a question or shall I explain”.

Well, that felt like a bitch slap, I didn’t realise how honest and both brutal truth could be. The warden seemed to be done with my questions and lifted his shadowy arm, gesturing me towards the mirror. As I walked towards the mirror, I could feel the truth more and more, that I was drawn here and the curiosity I had about this place and the local town obviously meant I did have questions, but what would this mirror reveal?

As I approached, the mirror began to ripple like the surface of a tranquil pond, and as I gazed into it, it showed images of my past, my fears, and my desires. The Warden's voice echoed in her mind, probing her thoughts. "Tell me, what secrets do you hide, even from yourself?"

I felt the foreboding then, the very secret I had spent my life running from and hid at all costs. I tried to voice it but found that I couldn’t, I knew the warden could sense it, but what would he do if I admitted to it, would he kill me, hand me over to the people who would do far worse? I could feel the panic rising and tried to turn around, but the mirror seemed to have a magical grip on me that wouldn’t let me move.

Whispered shadows rolled over my skin like snakes “You can’t escape this, you found us to help, now tell me what you are hiding, I can see the answers, but if you can’t admit it to yourself, then you are not strong enough to leave this mirror”.

I could feel all the horrors of what my secret had done and the pain of it, the guilt. I saw as my family died suddenly with no actual obvious causes, I saw as friends and even pets had died with me, and now I could see myself in the mirror as the images of my past ebbed away, I could see a scared girl that people would fear if they knew the truth, but more importantly, someone I had become afraid of.

“I’m more than a mage” I said out loud to the warden, the images in the mirror changed again as it transported me to another time while I was in mage training, we was working with bonding with animals through mind connection so that they could do jobs and tasks for us, while this was a difficult lesson, it became even more hard for me, with my first animal, a small wolf like dog, I had spent a while weaving the connection in my mind, but as soon as I focused the tendrils at the dog to connect, the moment it touched the dogs mind, the door backed away terrified and whining, like it was in physical pain. Our teacher came over to me at that point, unsure what had gone wrong, he encourage me to keep trying, but as soon as the tendrils touched the dogs mind, the same thing would happen. After holding the connection and trying to soothe the dog, it just flopped on its side and died, at that point I panicked with childhood memories coming back. Luckily no one had noticed, so I tapped into my healing power and also, my hidden gift and brought the dog back. It’s head lifted lazily and as I looked around to make sure no one had noticed, a boy across the room locked eyes with me and smirked, and I knew at that point I couldn’t stay there, he had seem what had happened and I had to get away in case they tested me fully, if they knew what I was, they would kill me on the spot.

But the warden knew, he could see the memories in the mirror, he could hear my unspoken words. He drew closer to me and said “stop avoiding yourself, what are you?” he said those last three words slowly, but almost soothingly, like trying not to spook me.

With a deep breath, I began to recount the forbidden gifts I possessed—the "Death Gifts," as they were called. I started rambling about how I could perceive the approach of death, not as an abstract concept, but as a tangible force that whispered to me. I could see the specters of the deceased and sometimes even communicate with them.

The Warden listened, absorbing my confession like a sponge soaking up water. I continued, revealing that I had used these gifts to help spirits find their peace, and to protect different places from malevolent forces. However, the powers had taken a toll on my sanity. The ceaseless presence of death haunted my every moment, driving me to the brink of madness.

Tears welled up in my eyes as she spoke of the sacrifices I had made and the guilt that gnawed at my soul. The tower's magic probed deeper, revealing the truth that even I had kept hidden from myself—the darkness within me that I had tried to bury, the moments of cruelty and anger that had festered like a wound and how they had killed by accident, had taken my families lives over a silly little argument, how I had realised what I did and knew I had to run. I had set fire to the house with my deceased family in there to hide the evidence and left the scene and let people assume that I had been in there with them. It took years of moving from town to town before I let the guilt in, it became also too consuming when I enrolled in mage school and learned to heal. I soon learned that using my healing gifts and death gifts together could bring someone back from the dead, and yet I had burned my family home to hide the evidence without ever knowing that I could have brought them back, them and some others that ended up dead around me during the earlier years when my gift started manifesting, after that, I only used it now and again to avoid a power build-up that could cause more damage if it became too much, I lost a friend due to avoiding my gift, after that I learned the basics to stop it seeping out of me.

As my confession concluded, the tower's atmosphere seemed to shift, becoming more welcoming and soothing. The mirror's surface stilled, and the Warden spoke once more, its whispering voices now soft and reassuring.

"Your gifts, though tainted by darkness, can also bring healing and closure. Embrace both the light and shadow within you. You are not defined by your gifts, but by how you choose to wield them, we can begin training when you feel ready".

“What”, I said stunned, I had come to find out what had happened in the town and now I was getting enrolled into training, the warden’s expressionless form seemed to smile, “Ahh you did not expect that, and yet you came home, sister. Death is a natural part of life, and yet many see it as wrong, it would be rude of me not to help a custodian of nature. In terms of the answers you seek about the town, the irony is that the town couldn’t harm you like it does others, when the townsfolk brought this mirror here, they saw it as a relic without ever knowing what object they had acquired, it transformed the tower and the town as its energy leaked out. This mirror is a mirror of truth, and many cannot face the truth or their own self-reflection, it breaks them and they become shells of their former selves, trying to outrun what it’s showing them. The longer the mirror was here, the more people that became affected by it and lost their minds, unfortunately, they cannot be helped by another, the only one that can heal them is them, by facing themselves.”

I stood stunned, processing what the warden had said, he began walking to the large doors and said over his shoulders, “Let’s begin the training”.

The End (for now)